Miles College, a historically Black university in Fairfield, Alabama, has established the 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization, & Growth to foster successful entrepreneurs and businesses throughout the state of Alabama, particularly in the city of Birmingham. The 2150 Center will be led by Erskine Faush, the recently hired chief innovation and growth officer at Miles College.
“We are launching a collaborative that will improve economic outcomes by connecting and synergizing a unified community to attract and retain talent, champion workforce development, support researchers and founders, and drive economic empowerment,” said Faush.
The 2150 center will serve as a collaborative hub for leaders and scholars at HBCUs to partner together on innovative business research and support diverse and underrepresented creators and entrepreneurs. Under Faush’s leadership, the center aims to attract entrepreneurial talent and investors that can help expand the center’s operations and support the city of Birmingham’s innovation capacity.
In addition to research support, the center will assess and validate any high-potential business ideas, create value for companies, and generate revenue for the institution. The 2150 center is currently recruiting and partnering with public, private, and education sectors throughout Birmingham and the state of Alabama.